Mari Men and Women as Bearers of the Mari Language and Identity

N.Glukhova, V.Glukhov

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This topic has not been adequately explored by Mari scholars though several attempts have been made at studying it. Research on this problem which presents a real challenge to investigators is very important for the development of the Mari nation.

According to the latest population census in 1989 there were 670,868 Maris. 542,160 of them, or 80.8%, considered Mari their mother tongue. Practically 52% of the nation live outside the Republic, 18.8% of them did not speak Mari. In the Republic of Mari El in 1989 there were 11.6% who did not consider Mari their native language. In 1979 this figure was 6.3%.

The Mari represent one of the rural nations of the Russian Federation. Only 26.1% of the Mari population lives in the cities, and in Yoshkar-Ola this figure is even smaller - 23.4 % (1999) (Sepeyev, 2000:75).

The Republic and its people have attracted much attention from scholars of different branches of knowledge as the area with the best preserved language and unique traditional culture.

Historians and archaeologists previously wrote that the Mari were formed as a single nation a thousand years ago, at present some scholars (K. Sanukov, L. Vasikova) prefer to speak of several distinct sub-ethnoses, differing in certain characteristics in their identity. In this paper only typical features shared by all subgroups and distinguishing them from other nations will be discussed.

Psychologists say that on the personal level the concept of identification takes center stage in the formation of the self. Identification is the social process whereby the individual chooses adults as models and attempts to imitate their behavior (Erikson, 1963). The concept of identification with the role model shows that this type occurs throughout life because personality continually changes, even though basic aspects are formed in infancy. The result of this process is the individual's identity (Kornblum, 1994:153).

Ethnic identity is considered a basis of ethnic consciousness, a definite set of behavioral or personal typical distinctive traits (characteristics) by which an individual is recognized as a member of a group. Identity proceeds from the process of identification: a person's association with certain qualities, characteristics and views of another person or a whole group. Conclusive identity is made if investigated characteristics in their totality and relationship among themselves are relatively unique.

The findings of the sociological investigation carried out in the 1970.s, 1980.s andlate 1990.s by Mari scholars showed several basic features of Mari ethnic consciousness. The questionnaires were different but the majority of questions in them were nearly the same (Solovyov, 1977; Solovyov, 1987; Solovyov, Shabykov, Popov, 1999; Shabykov 2000:171-206).

One of the parameters of national identification was considered to be the age of a person's own association with a particular nation. These age periods were defined at 7, 10 and 15 years (going to kindergartens and schools with children of other nationalities, then continuing their education in secondary schools or colleges). The next question and answers to it confirm the idea of heterogeneity of the Mari as a nation. Out of 4,000 people interviewed only 7% called themselves "Mari", 71% considered themselves Midland, or Meadow, Mari, 21.2% - Lowland, or Hill Mari and 0.08% referred to themselves as belonging to the Eastern group.

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